Mediterranean Sea Fan [Pentapora fascialis]
Description
Pentapora fascialis, commonly known as the Mediterranean Sea Fan, is a species of bryozoan found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. It forms large colonies that resemble a fan, with the colonies often reaching a diameter of 1 meter. It is found at depths of 10 to 100 meters, preferring rocky substrates. The individual zooids are tubular in shape and arranged in a concentric pattern. Like all bryozoans, they are filter feeders, capturing planktonic food particles from the water column with their tentacles.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
True Jellyfish
Scyphozoa
|
| Order |
Stalked Jellyfish
Stauromedusae
|
| Family |
Depastridae
Depastridae
|
| Genus |
Pentapora
Pentapora
|